Post by Friendly Destroyer on Nov 16, 2010 8:22:55 GMT -8

Y'all, watch the "Runaway" movie on his website, for real. I am surprised at the intensity level of the comments here, you would swear that Kanye had rolled up and directly farted in each one of your personal faces then slapped your mother and flew away on his gold jet pack. Kanye is what he is. At least as a crazy mainstream artist he is always trying to come up with interesting stuff. Seriously, Kanye and his crew have been the taste makers in mainstream hip-hop for some time now (there was a time not too long ago that we had to endure Ja Rule, Nelly, and every other knockoff) and they never take the predictable route. They could if they wanted to, they could be like the KIngs of Leon, but they choose not to. I am not saying he makes the best chunes on the planet, but I see him as a positive influence on mainstream music. You can get all caught up in his personality and develop deranged personal animosities or you can just go and watch "Runaway" and be dazzled.

Post by Friendly Destroyer on Nov 16, 2010 8:27:57 GMT -8

As for Bonnaroo, one of the best nights ever. After a full entire day of music, I saw Sigur Ros play an epic almost 3 hour late night set, then stumbled into a full on stadium rock show at 5am with Kanye West. Know how to festival right and you will never be disappointed with the lineup.

Post by Friendly Destroyer on Nov 16, 2010 8:50:19 GMT -8

Last thing, as The Gramma pointed out, he lost his mother. Believe it or not, there is this little thing that is called grief which typically follows such an event. Unfortunately we are still so brainwashed that we can not understand anything beyond our social mores to realize the actual mechanics of loss and grief. Anger, self sabotage, and risky behavior are very common after such an event, especially for those who live by constructing a very controlled world around them. This all relates to my field of work and it's funny how text book his behavior really was for someone of his age, success and familiar situation (one parent and no siblings). I am not saying it's right, but it is a process many need to go through and usually get no understanding to why they are behaving this way (society is blindly more inclined to suggest the opposite, which is the basis for most "inappropriate" reactions toward adversity or resistance).

Post by Cbats on Nov 16, 2010 9:39:43 GMT -8

Just to add to what the other guys are saying, part of what makes kanye so interesting is that he doesn't attempt to filter himself, he just puts everything out there. He looks a like a jerk because he's willing to let himself look like a jerk and speaks him mind. Everyone whines about his award show appearances but I actually find it refreshing that someone readily admits that it hurts when they don't win.

but most of this doesn't matter that much because his personality isn't what matters, it's the music. His new album is insane and possibly the best thing released this year (may not be better than LCD but it's sure close)

Post by wolfhat on Nov 16, 2010 15:27:41 GMT -8

Hmm, well I'll admit I did not realize he lost his mother recently. And not knowing the circumstances of her death I can't comment specifically about it, but it's true that such an event is devastating and it's natural to behave in ways that can be seen as irrational to society. But being a very reactionary person he isn't doing himself (nor his publicist) any favors. He runs his mouth, he acts out, and while these things may be normal human behavior, he lost the "oh just leave him alone about it, he is what he is" card when he became a celebrity. All eyes are on him, and that fact coupled with his ego is just making him worse. If he wants to heal, he isn't going about it in a good way.

Pretty narrow-minded there, wolfhat. If your judgment of a performer's personality and shortcomings are criteria for enjoying his music, you're not going to be able to enjoy very much.

Perhaps I went a little over the top when I said I have "zero interest" in listening to his new album. It's true, the guy has talent and he definitely pushes the envelope, and these are two qualities of very best musicians. I will probably give the new album listen to at some point, and I may even check out this video everyone is raving about.

But it's the fact that he is a celebrity, and therefore a role model, that is the problem. He embodies some really negative aspects of humanity, and the fact that we hold him (and therefore his behaviors) in such high regard irks me. Should he have called George W. Bush a racist over the Katrina fiasco? Well, maybe, but W being a racist was kinda beside the point in that debacle. Should he have taken the microphone away from Taylor Swift during her acceptance speech at the VMAs? Fuck no. It's this sort of pigheaded shit that I despise of celebrities, and Kanye is a repeat offender.

I like to think that in most cases I can separate an artist's personality with their work, but the two are definitely connected and sometimes one taints the other for me. Perhaps you could call this one of my own flaws.

Post by Horned Gramma on Nov 17, 2010 8:08:20 GMT -8

Wolfie your argument is inside out and backwards. Starting with saying that celebrities = role models. I'm a little hungover this morning, but if you can dismiss Kanye West as an artist after 'everything [you've] learned about the clown' - and everything you've learned doesn't include the possibly relevant fact that his mother died in the last couple years - you might want to re-evaluate.

In other words, don't make that kind of statement until you've seen the film he directed AND his argument with Matt Lauer.

I'm not even a Kanye fan - or I wasn't really until I watched 'Runaway'. But here's the thing, I was raised Mormon in an armpit of a town that didn't like Mormons. The bible-thumping church down by the river would run their kids through this anti-Mormon class and get everyone all fired up at my family and stuff, and these people would come at me like, 'I heard you believe THIS ridiculous thing, and I heard you believe THIS ridiculous thing...' And I'd say, well no that's not true. But of course, ignorant dirtfuckers, they believed the haters.

So to breakdown the metaphor here: Kanye is a Mormon, and I say if you want to know about Mormons then ask a Mormon and not dirtfucking Matt Lauer.

Post by wolfhat on Nov 17, 2010 14:56:55 GMT -8

Once you've attained celebrity status like Kanye you are most definitely a role model. I don't see any way around that. Maybe our resident psychologist friendlydestroyer could weigh in on this?

I generally do not seek out celebrity news, so it's not surprising to me that I completely missed the fact his mother died. If I did a little research I'm sure I could find out more about his back story and where he's coming from, but even if I understand his motives that doesn't excuse his behavior. And since he is also a role model it is even worse. That's all I'm saying.

On another note: wow, that pastor really got those people believing some hilarious stuff. Especially since there is no such thing as a static "dark side of the moon." Unless these lunar monks are nomadic this would be impossible. People seem to love believing messed up stuff about religions, including their own. Mormons definitely get a bad rap, though.

Also, it's pretty fucked up that W felt that the worst part of his 8 year presidency was when someone called him a racist. Really?!?